Her condition deteriorated to the extent that she could not hold anything, open a car door or raise food to her mouth. Doctors diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis.

Shainaaz, 48, a South African housewife who lives in Dubai, said the apparent hopelessness of her situation hit her during an emotional visit to see her doctor.

“In December 2008 he told me to book an early appointment because he was going on holiday,” she said.

“I tried to tell him how bad I felt, how much pain I was in, and all he said was, ‘Shainaaz, you will be like this for the rest of your life.’ That is when I broke down and cried. I felt my life was over.”

After unfruitful visits to an orthopaedic surgeon, a chiropractor and a gynaecologist, Shainaaz was referred to a rheumatologist at a well-known Dubai hospital. It was the first time, she said, that she had heard of such a doctor.

He prescribed a weekly dosage of methotrexate tablets and cortisone injections.

The shots helped to relieve her symptoms but the treatment “wasn’t even playing catch-up to my disease”.

Shortly afterwards, she had her last appointment with the doctor, whose prognosis devastated her.

“At this point, I lost all hope,” said Shainaaz. “I did not care where I went for a check-up, what medication I was taking or which doctor I was seeing.”

Fortunately, she found a new doctor and, with him, renewed hope.

“I gave a huge sigh of relief because somebody was listening to me,” she said. After removing excess fluid from one of her knees and prescribing methotrexate injections, the new doctor put Shainaaz on a treatment regime that has allowed her to live a relatively normal life.
“I was one of the lucky ones. For me it was the worst time in my life,” she said.

She is now able to swim for the first time in three years and has completed a 3-kilometre fun walk.

“Thanks to a very kind and patient doctor I have my life back,” she said. “At the moment we are managing the arthritis.
“I have a very positive outlook in life.”

From Shk Zayed Road North Bound
(Dubai direction) take Um Suqaim west exit (toward Jumeirah), make a right on Al Wasl Road, pass the 1st traffic light, immediately after the intersection enter the service Road, Villa 1029.

Al Biraa clinic provides attentive, confidential and quality care, ensuring strict codes of conduct and compliance with international standards consistent with centers of healthcare excellence.all of our international staff, in addition to being highly qualified and experienced in their particular field, are fully conversant with customer care practices, quality in the delivery of services, patient feedback, consistence of service, courtesy and effective communication maintained keeping your comfort in mind.